Penance

Chapter Eleven: Show of Strength | Part 3

“Speaking of the press conference, Rhea and I are expected to attend the school’s projection.” Benn sat up to look Thirtyx in the eye. “But I can stay here if you’re not comfortable being alone yet. I don’t care what Grimm wants—Rhea can go for both of us.”

Rhea confirmed with a firm nod, but Thirtyx was already shaking his head. “No, you guys should go. I… I don’t feel up to it, but I’ll be fine here. Really.” To make it more convincing, he stood and propelled his body into a confident stretch. “I need to pull myself together, anyway. I’m sure classes will be back on tomorrow, and if I’m not there…” He shuddered to think. Even with Azirenne gone, would the professors be looking for excuses to disguise additional torture sessions as detention?

“We can thought-share if you want to see the projection for yourself,” Rhea suggested. “No pressure, of course, but—”

“That would be nice. I… I’ll need to know what I’m up against tomorrow.”

There was that signature look of mingled pity and awe. Thirtyx used another stretch as an excuse to look at the ceiling. He wasn’t worthy of their pity. This was merely payment for the way they’d protected him for so long. Penance for him having befriended them as part of a decade-old assassination plot…

Being best friends with the prince and princess didn’t come free, and he’d never expected it would.

Rhea and Benn decided to stage a strategic show of strength by digging out their palace finery for the press conference. Rhea returned to her room, while Thirtyx helped Benn find all the ceremonial baubles scattered across the bottom of his trunk. He learned a great deal about the significance of each pin he poked through Benn’s lapels and which epaulettes were appropriate for which events and how to polish the thin, golden diadem Benn didn’t finish fussing over until the bells chimed 31st bar.

Less than a fraction later, Thirtyx answered Rhea’s knock on the door and visibly startled at the sight of her. His gaze traced a line from her diadem—a near-exact replica of Benn’s—across her bold makeup and intricate braid, to the sheer and solid layers of her dress, laced with ornate beads that seemed to sparkle as the fabric moved in an ethereal dance.

Thirtyx had seen her in formal wear through projections of palace events, or in her or Benn’s memories, but never in person. And never before had she looked like such a fierce and capable queen.

His stunned expression brought a smirk to her lips, and there was the Rhea he knew, shining through the regalia. “Yes, that’s precisely the reaction we’re going for. But would it kill you to throw in a curtsey for your future queen?”

Benn grabbed Thirtyx’s collar before he could dip into his sarcastically exaggerated bow. “If her ego gets any bigger, her diadem won’t fit.” He stepped around Thirtyx to meet his sister in the doorway, and Thirtyx couldn’t help but stare again. They both looked so regal. So capable.

“If you need us, we’ll come back right away,” Benn said. Why did Thirtyx trust him so much more in full commander’s garb? He nodded blankly, and he caught Benn chuckling as he closed the door.

If they were worried about anyone taking them seriously in the event of the inevitable, they were doing a fantastic job of staving off those doubts.

The itch came to Thirtyx’s mind immediately, and he answered. His head filled with two parallel and very disorienting views of the hallway. Agh, Thirtyx winced. Only one of you needs to show me!

One overlay disappeared after some muffled mental bickering. Thirtyx could now clearly see the other students heading toward the dining hall. Every single one of them stopped to gape.

Thirtyx’s pride mingled with Rhea and Benn’s amusement, which they kept contained within their minds. Their faces remained stoic. They didn’t so much as glance at their classmates as they filed alongside them into the stairwell. On one of the landings, however, they passed Professor C, and Rhea made sure to give her a thorough staredown. 

Despite the unmistakable hint of fear in Professor C’s expression, Thirtyx was glad he chose not to attend corporeally. Seeing Professor C spurred his heart to beat faster. The number of people entering the dining hall made his stomach clench. He wasn’t there, though. Not really. He was safe.

I sealed your door with a Pfah spell, Rhea chimed in. Apparently his anxiety was leaking into the chat. We’re the only ones who can open your door from the outside.

Thirtyx made sure they could feel his gratitude.